The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Old College
South Bridge
Edinburgh
EH8 9YL
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Course contact details
Student Recruitment & Admissions
Email:futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Phone:0131 650 4360
Russian Studies and Social Policy
- MA (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Full-time
- 08/09/2025
- Undergraduate
- Central area campus
Course summary
Around 150 million people in the world speak Russian. It is the official language of four countries, is widely understood throughout Eastern Europe, and in the last thirty years has seen transnational mobility on an unprecedented scale.
As the world's largest country, Russia plays an important role in global cultural and political contexts. This makes Russian Studies and Social Policy an ideal joint honours combination.
Russian
On this joint honours programme, you will have the opportunity to develop advanced speaking, writing, reading, listening and translating skills in Russian.
Our Year 1 Russian courses are streamed according to how much of the language you already know, so it does not matter if you are a complete beginner.
Over the course of your four years, you will explore Russian literature and culture, past and present. You will also develop an awareness of Russia's international political and historical contexts.
Social Policy
You will focus on social and economic change, what causes it, and its consequences for society.
Our programme reflects how policies are developed; for example, you will learn about the policy-making process in the UK. You will also study the influence of international bodies such as the EU and OECD.
We deal with a wide array of policy areas, for example:
-
health and welfare
-
education and labour markets
-
family and childhood
We work closely with:
-
governments
-
NGOs
-
third sector and interest representation groups
-
international organisations and other external actors
International comparative analyses are one of our main strengths, and we place a strong emphasis on providing our students with empirical research skills.
Why Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a world-leading festival city filled with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections.
A cultural powerhouse, it is also a political city - seat of the Scottish Parliament, and home to a range of embassies and consulates.
Our four-year programme is flexible. In Years 1 and 2, as well as your core subjects, you will choose option courses from a wide range of disciplines. You will then specialise as you progress through your honours years.
When you graduate, you will have the combination of language and humanities skills, and the international perspective, valued by employers worldwide.
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- EU has vacancies
- does not have vacancies
- does not have vacancies
- International has vacancies
- Scotland has vacancies
- Northern Ireland does not have vacancies
- Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies
Apply by
29 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- RL74
- Institution code:
- E56
- Campus name:
- Central area campus
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
Not acceptedA level
AABAAB. Required subjects: A levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: a language other than English at B or 6 and English at C or 4.
Scottish Higher
ABBBABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: a language other than English at B and English at C.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
36 - 34 points36 points with 665 at HL - 34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: a language other than English at 5 and English at 5.
For degrees that have a subject requirement of a language other than English, students may not use their own native language to meet this requirement. In these instances, English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable.
Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply.
You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference.
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
-
A level - ABB
Required subjects: A levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: a language other than English at B or 6 and English at C or 4.
Scottish Higher - ABBB
ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: a language other than English at B and English at C.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 34 points
34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: a language other than English at 5 and English at 5.
Find out more about minimum qualification requirements for this course.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | Total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 92 | Total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Total 176 with at least 162 in each component. | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Total 176 with at least 162 in each component. | |
| Trinity ISE | ISE II with distinctions in all four components. | |
| PTE Academic | 65 | Total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online. |
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies. For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher: SQA National 5 at C; SQA Standard Grade at 3; SQA Intermediate 1 at A; SQA Intermediate 2 at C; GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate Grade C or IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.
Full details of our English language requirements can be found on our website: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not available
Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £1820 | Year 1 |
| EU | £28000 | Year 1 |
| International | £28000 | Year 1 |
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.
EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.
Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme
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